THESE are the first images of Liverpool's new stunning John Lewis department store, destined for the Paradise Street redevelopment area.

THESE are the first images of Liverpool's new stunning John Lewis department store, destined for the Paradise Street redevelopment area.

The building, which will be the largest John Lewis shop outside London, will replace the partnership's home in Church Street.

Directors of the group and the developers, Grosvenor, last night signed on the dotted line for the multi-million pound store.

Work will start on the foundations before the end of this year, with major construction due to get under way early in the New Year.

The store is one of the key anchor developments in the #750m redevelopment scheme by Grosvenor.

Last night, the leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Mike Storey, said: "The plans for the John Lewis store are stunning and I am delighted that we are getting such a high calibre development in the heart of our city.

"It has been delivered in record time with private sector money. Grosvenor's development is unlike anything that has happened before. There will not be a glass covered mall, but a scheme that respects the existing architecture and mixes it with stunning new architecture that will be of a high quality.

"The start of this development will confound the cynics because this really is happening. Advance work has already started on the Paradise Street site and everything is on target."

On November 27 the chairman of Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, will be in Liverpool for a formal ground-breaking ceremony to kick-start what will be Europe's biggest city centre redevelopment scheme.

By then workmen will already be on site.

John Lewis will be the biggest tenant in the redevelopment with a store of 240,000 sq ft due to open in 2008.

The existing store employs around 600 people and the new larger store is expected to generate more jobs.

The London-based group say its new Liverpool store will represent "the next generation of John Lewis department stores."

Christopher Glenn, managing director of John Lewis in Liverpool, said: "This multi-million pound investment demonstrates John Lewis's commitment to the regeneration of Liverpool city centre.

"We have traded here for over 60 years and are all delighted at the prospect of offering an exciting new department store."

John Lewis first became a presence in Liverpool when it bought George Henry Lee's store from Selfridges in the 1940s. George Henry Lee had started the shop in Liverpool in the 1850s before selling the business to Selfridges.

Rod Holmes of Grosvenor, said "This sends out a strong message about the huge importance of the John Lewis project to Liverpool."